When to cruise from San Diego
Ships sail from San Diego from September to May. On November 13, 2026, the schedule has no departures from June to August 2027 and from June to August 2028. January 2027 is the busiest month, with 30 departures, and the cheapest per night.
By Andrew Budai · Last checked · Rates and opening hours change, so confirm before you travel.
Cruise ships leave San Diego from September to May. The San Diego Tourism Authority's Visit San Diego site gives the season as "September through May", and the schedule on this site matches it. On November 13, 2026, it lists 227 departures between November 2026 and September 2028, and none from June to August 2027 and from June to August 2028.
The numbers below are counted from that schedule, and they change when it does. The schedule by month has the same counts month by month.
When is cruise season in San Diego?
The 2026-27 season runs until May 2027. May 2027, its last month, has five departures. Three are one-way trips to Vancouver: Serenade of the Seas on May 2, Disney Wonder on May 6, and Disney Magic on May 9. Azamara Quest has two departures listed on May 24, the last of the season: one of 17 nights to Miami and one of 35 nights to Tilbury.
Then nothing leaves until September 20, 2027, when Disney Magic starts the 2027-28 season with a 5-night trip to Baja California and Ensenada. September 2027 has four departures in all, and October 2027 has 21.
Which months are busiest?
January 2027 has the most departures, 30. December 2026 has 24, March 2027 has 22, and October 2027 has 21. The edges of the season are quiet, with five departures in May 2027 and four in September 2027.
A busy month gives you more to choose from. In January 2027 seven ships leave San Diego, on trips of 3 to 24 nights to Baja, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and other routes.
When are fares lowest?
Among the fares we checked between November 7, 2026 and November 13, 2026, January 2027 has the lowest median fare per night, about $96, then February 2027 at about $101. The lowest single starting fare is $199 per person, for Serenade of the Seas' 4-night trip on December 6, 2026.
Fares for the 2027-28 season are higher in this schedule, a median of about $229 a night against $122 for 2026-27. Almost all of its departures so far are on Disney and Holland America Line ships. Fares change daily, and cheap cruises lists the lowest ones we have now.
Can I cruise from San Diego over the holidays?
Yes. On Christmas Day 2026, seven sailings are at sea, on Koningsdam, Zaandam, Norwegian Star, Serenade of the Seas, Crystal Serenity, and Disney Wonder. Eight are at sea on New Year's Eve. In Thanksgiving week, November 20 to 27, 2026, Koningsdam and Disney Wonder each have a departure. Holiday cruises lists them all.
Where can I go at each time of year?
Baja and Ensenada sailings leave from September to April. Mexican Riviera and Sea of Cortez sailings leave from September to April, busiest in December. Pacific coast sailings, most of them one way to Vancouver, leave in November and from March to May, busiest in April. Hawaii and South Pacific sailings leave from October to November and from January to April, busiest in January. Panama Canal sailings, all of them one way, leave from September to February and in May. Destinations lists each one by date.
What about hurricane season?
The National Hurricane Center gives the eastern Pacific hurricane season as May 15 to November 30. The eastern Pacific is the ocean off Mexico's Pacific coast, where Baja and Mexican Riviera cruises call. The season overlaps both ends of San Diego's: the May sailings, and those from September to November.
Sources
